No time to rest: Olympian Jennifer Heil believes staying active will make her a better mom

Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Heil.

Photograph by: Leah Hennel
, Calgary Herald

“I’ve been trading in the free weights for a stroller lately,” Olympic champion Jennifer Heil says with a laugh as she explains the workout she completed the day before. “I was literally lunging around the park with a baby carriage in front of me. It’s taking a little creativity, but I’m still getting some activity in every day.”

Heil, a Spruce Grove, Alta. native, who has both gold and silver hardware in freestyle mogul skiing from the 2006 and 2010 Games, recently took on her greatest physical challenge yet: motherhood.

Giving birth to son Danik just eight weeks ago, the athlete’s fitness regime is going through a few growing pains of its own, as she figures out how to balance caring for a newborn and allowing herself the physical activity she craves.

As an Olympian, Heil was used to training three times a day, six days a week. Even during her single non-training month a year, her vacations revolved around activities like surfing. Needless to say, the less active lifestyle took some getting used to for this fitness fanatic. Not wanting to push herself too fast, Heil has been easing back into her workouts for the past few weeks, fitting short bursts of activity in where Danik’s schedule will allow.

“I road bike with friends, I do fitness classes, I do cross-training in my backyard when I have 20 or 30 minutes to spare,” she says, “I’m using aIl of my fitness knowledge — and the Nike Training Club app, which I love — and try to just move. I feel so much better when I do.”

For Heil, along with a lot of workout enthusiasts, the benefits of physical activity go far beyond building muscles and looking good in Spandex. Though those are nice byproducts, it’s actually the mental effects of exercise that Heil misses the most when taking it easy.

Moving our bodies on the regular actually contributes more to our overall state or well-being than we realize.

“I have very strong emotions and I was lucky to realize that early on and have access to sports psychologists to really help me try and harness them and use them to my advantage,” Heil explains.

“The last few years I’ve been in university full-time and balancing all my life commitments. It’s been a stressful time, and I notice a massive difference in my mental state when I am active and when I’m not. I feel balanced when I workout and that’s the biggest outcome for me.”

This Saturday (July 27), Heil will be taking part in and speaking about the stress- management benefits of physical activity at the Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women series at Edworthy Park. Recognizing the connection between exercise and well-being, part of the proceeds of the run will be going to The Women’s Mental Health Clinic at Foothills Medical Clinic.

The run includes three different distances: 5K, 10K and the Little Steps Girls 1K, to accommodate as many women of as many different fitness levels as possible. Heil does a lot of work around sports promotion with girls through charities like Because I am a Girl and even runs her own ski camp, the Jenn Heil Girls Camp, in the hopes of opening the eyes of girls to the positive aspects of sports.

“We know that from a very young age, girls are a whole lot less likely to be active than boys. I’ve done a lot of research on it because I’m genuinely fascinated by why this happens,” Heil says. “The benefits of girls participating in sports both in terms of physical and mental health are endless, though, so it’s so important to combat this phenomenon however we can.”

One such way is leading by example; something all the participants in Saturday’s run will be doing.

According to Heil, runs like this one, where hundreds of women can get together, have fun and challenge themselves physically in a positive environment, are vital in breaking down the belief that women and girls should not be athletically inclined.

Heil now understands first-hand just how tricky it can be for a mom to prioritize herself and schedule regular exercise into her day, but believes that by doing so, they will see the benefits in all areas of their lives, as well as set their children up for a healthy, well-balanced future. Mothers are the No. 1 role models for their children, so when they are active, they are demonstrating to their kids that fitness is important and, most of all, enjoyable.

“All the science and the physiological evidence about the mental and emotional benefits of exercise is out there — there’s no denying it — but there’s more to it than that,” Heil says.

“By prioritizing our physical health, even as little as 30 minutes a day, we are actually able to give more of ourselves to our friends and family in the long run.

“It’s an investment in your happiness and your future.”

SPOTLIGHT: Olympic champion Jennifer Heil is the keynote speaker at the Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women, taking place Saturday at Edworthy Park. For information or to register, go to: http://www.runforwomen.ca/calgary-ab-s13773

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